Strawberry plant named ‘Lucia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘Lucia’. This new short day strawberry variety is characterized by very vigorous plants which produce long conical fruit of uniform shape and size, which has an exceptional, sweet strawberry flavor, and a very desirable lighter red exterior color. The variety is fully remontant in coastal areas of California.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘Lucia’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Lucia’. This new short day strawberry variety is the result of a controlled cross in an ongoing breeding program made by the inventor, Jimmy Bagdasarian, in 2008. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa.

The primary market for the ‘Lucia’ variety is for the fresh market sales of the fruit. ‘Lucia’ produces very high quality, large firm berries, which are attractive and which have excellent flavor. The berries produced by the ‘Lucia’ variety are sweet tasting, exhibiting excellent culinary qualities.

2. Description of Relevant Prior Art

The controlled cross, conducted in the ongoing breeding program, which resulted in the ‘Lucia’ variety was between a strawberry variety designated ‘5E10’, a female, and a strawberry variety designated ‘16F29’, a male. The female parent, ‘5E10’, is an unreleased proprietary variety having the following plant characteristics: short day; compact growth habit; blistered, dark colored, high gloss leaves; with smaller size, short conical fruit having a dark red exterior and medium red interior color. The variety denomination of ‘16F29’, the pollen parent, is ‘Sweet Ann’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472). The plant characteristics of ‘Sweet Ann’ are: day-neutral; globose with open plant density; strong vigor; leaves have medium glossiness with weak or absent blistering; with large size, conical fruit having a glossy medium red exterior and interior color.

The aforementioned controlled cross was carried out in a breeding program at Santa Cruz, Calif., USA. Pollen taken from a ‘16F29’ plant pollinated a female ‘5E10’ plant. The flowers were covered so that no other pollen could contaminate the procedure.

Strawberries developed, were later harvested and the seeds resulting from this cross were extracted and germinated in a greenhouse at Redding, Calif., USA. The resulting seedlings were transplanted to Shastina, Calif. in 2009, grown for an additional period of time and allowed to propagate asexually. Plants were then harvested and planted in breeding plots in early to mid-October in: Oxnard, Calif. (Ventura County); and Watsonville, Calif. (Monterey County). The selection of the new variety was first made in Watsonville, Calif., and designated ‘42J4’ in 2010. This selection was later named ‘Lucia’.

The new variety was further propagated asexually by stolons in breeding plots in: Macdoel, Calif. (Siskiyou County); and Manteca, Calif. (San Joaquin County).

The new variety has also been “meristemed.” Small pieces of plant material (approximately 0.5 mm in diameter), consisting of the undifferentiated meristem tissue and one or two leaf primordia, were removed from the buds on crowns of young daughter plants, then placed on nutrient medium, and new plants were grown from them. Planting stock from the “meristemed” plants are growing in a screenhouse located in Redding, Calif.

The propagules of ‘Lucia’ (‘42J4’) are identical to the original plant in all distinguishing characteristics; accordingly, the propagation has demonstrated that the traits disclosed herein remain fixed and true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Lucia is a short day variety exhibiting the following combination of characteristics, which have been observed repeatedly, and which distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. The variety produces large sized fruit;     -   2. The fruit is very well shaped, long conical;     -   3. The fruit is attractive, having a glossy medium red exterior         and a light red interior;     -   4. The fruit is sweet tasting, with excellent flavor;     -   5. The variety produces a high volume of uniformly shaped conic         fruit;     -   6. The plants of the variety are vigorous and maintain an open         architecture; and,     -   7. The variety is fully remontant in a coastal environment.

The fruit produced by the ‘Lucia’ plant variety is larger than that of its female parent ‘5E10’. ‘Lucia’ produces fruit which is sweet, like its pollen parent ‘Sweet Ann’, however, ‘Lucia’ exhibits a more desirable ripening pattern as compared to ‘Sweet Ann’. The fruit of ‘Lucia’ is also firmer than the fruit of either of its parent varieties: ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘5E10’.

‘Lucia’ demonstrates other characteristics and qualities that are desired by fresh market strawberry sales companies. The lighter, medium red color is preferred by many shippers of fresh strawberries, as the darker berries are more likely to be viewed as overripe by buyers than the lighter colored berries. In addition, ‘Lucia’ plants have been grown in experimental plots with the fruit harvested and held in refrigeration; the fruit of ‘Lucia’ retained its firmness, color, gloss, and quality even after seven (7) days holding time.

The plant vigor of ‘Lucia’ is very high which provides an advantage over lower vigor varieties which require high fertility inputs to achieve similar vigor levels. ‘Lucia’ exhibits moderate to good disease and pest tolerance, even when grown in non-fumigated ground. ‘Lucia’ has also shown good results when grown under organic farming practices, which is the fastest growing segment in the California strawberry industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographs, identified as FIGS. 1 through 7, show the appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety, initially designated ‘42J4’, and now named ‘Lucia’. These Figures depict the colors, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible given differences in color illustrations of this character. Accordingly, color in the photographs may differ slightly from the colors discussed in the botanical description. The photographs of the depicted plant, plant parts, and fruit of ‘Lucia’ were taken in July of 2012.

FIG. 1 shows typical leaf and petiole structures of ‘Lucia’ at mid-season;

FIG. 2 shows typical leaf structure;

FIG. 3 shows a selection of typical mid-season fruit;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruit shape and calyx position over the berry of ‘Lucia’;

FIG. 5 shows a transverse cross-section of typical fruit internal coloration and core size;

FIG. 6 shows calyx shape and relationship to fruit at mid-season; and,

FIG. 7 shows typical fruiting plants in a field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

‘Lucia’ is a new and distinct variety of strawberry, genus and species Fragaria×ananassa. It is the result of a cross between its female parent, ‘5E10’, an unreleased proprietary variety, and ‘Sweet Ann’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472, its male parent. ‘5E10’ is a short-day variety with partially remontant tendencies and ‘Sweet Ann’ is a day-neutral variety. ‘Lucia’ is a short-day variety that has ever-bearing tendencies in temperate coastal environments, and is partially remontant in warmer inland environments. Stolons have been observed blooming in production fields, but bloom only once in a high elevation nursery, consistent with a short-day variety. The plants of the new variety are very vigorous and produce multiple crowns early after planting. ‘Lucia’ exhibits several characteristics which are improvements over one or both of its parent varieties, and other known cultivars. The characteristics of ‘Lucia’ were observed in plants aged seven to eight months from planting. These characteristics and comparisons with other cultivars are discussed following.

The fruiting pattern of ‘Lucia’ is similar to that of ‘Sweet Ann’, but production is slower in the early quarter of the season. The fruit size of ‘Lucia’ is uniformly medium large, slightly smaller than the large one hundred gram fruit produced by ‘Sweet Ann’, but larger than the fruit produced by ‘5E10’. This smaller size of fruit of ‘Lucia’ provides an advantage in Northern California production areas where early risk of rain damage is high.

The fruit produced by ‘5E10’ is short conic with wide, broad shoulders, while both ‘Lucia’ and the male parent, ‘Sweet Ann’, produce long conic fruit. The fruit of ‘Lucia’ ripens more evenly from the tip to the shoulders of the berry, resulting in a more uniform red color over the whole fruit. In contrast, the shoulders of the fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’ are the last portion to ripen. The fruit of ‘Lucia’ is nearly absent of any creases and is smoother than the fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’; and, it is also firmer than the fruit of either ‘5E10’ or ‘Sweet Ann’. The fruit of ‘Lucia’ holds in storage better than either of its parent varieties, and the fruit of ‘Lucia’ retains its gloss with less visible fruit bruising than observed with the fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’.

The data set forth for ‘Lucia’ in Tables 1, 2, and 3 was collected in August 2012 from plants grown at the Meridian ranch test plot, in Prunedale, Monterey County, Calif. Color terminology where noted herein for ‘Lucia’ and ‘Sweet Ann’ is in accordance with the Pantone Color Formula Guide GP 1201.

In Table 1, the observed characteristics of ‘Lucia’ are set forth.

TABLE 1 Detailed Description of Characteristics of ‘Lucia’ SPECIFICATION: Genus/Species Fragaria × Ananassa. Market name Strawberry PARENTS: Female Proprietary variety ‘5E10’(unpatented). Male ‘Sweet Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472). PLANT: Type Short Day. Growth habit Semi-upright. Foliage density Dense. Vigor High. Height Average: 33.65 cm; range: 28 cm to 39 cm. Width Average: 47.25 cm; range: 43 cm to 55 cm. Crowns Multiple crowns produced early after planting. Disease tolerance Moderately tolerant to Ramularia tulasnei (common leaf spot) and Sphaerotheca macularis (powdery mildew). Exhibits good tolerance to Tetranychus urticae (two spotted spider mite), even when grown in non- fumigated ground. LEAF: Width Average: 19.55 cm; range: 16.5 cm to 21.5 cm. Color Adaxial Surface: green 364 U. Abaxial Surface: green 363 U. Pubescence Medium density. Inter-vein blistering Medium. Glossiness High. Variegation None. TERMINAL LEAFLET: Length Average: 10.3 cm. Width Average: 9.13 cm. Ratio length to width 1.13. Margin Serrate to crenate. Leaf shape Orbicular. Apex shape Rounded. Base shape Rounded to obtuse. Cross-section shape Moderately concave. PETIOLE: Pubescence Medium density; direction: perpendicular. Petiole color Green 366 U. Petiole length Average: 26.85 cm. Petiole diameter Average: 4.48 mm. STIPULE: Stipule anthocyanin Yes. coloration Stipule color Green 376U. Length Average: 35.74 mm. Width Average: 17.8 mm. STOLON: Number produced Average: 15.9; range: 14 to 19. Length Average: 45.5 cm. Stolon anthocyanin Present; medium intensity. coloration Stolon color Red 1777 U. Pubescence Medium high; up-wards direction. Diameter Average: 4.0 mm; range: 3.5 mm to 4.4 mm. INFLORESCENCE: Flowering time Early. Position First bract at foliage level, bloom well above canopy. Number of blooms Average: 6.4; range:4 to 9. Length Average of fruiting clusters at mid-season: 43.05 cm. Flower Average diameter: 28.81 mm; range: 23.5 mm to 34.2 mm. Petal arrangement Touching to overlapping. Petals Average number per flower: 5 Petal Shape Orbicular. Petal Apex Rounded. Petal Base Obtuse. Petal Margin Entire. Petal Length Average: 12.44 mm; range: 10.6 mm to 14.2 mm. Petal Width Average: 11.86 mm; range: 10.0 mm to 13.1 mm. Ratio length to width 1.04. Petal Color Upper surface: bright white, 11-0601 TPX. Under surface: bright white, 11-0601 TPX. Calyx Size in relation to corolla: slightly larger. Calyx color Adaxial Surface: green 364 U. Abaxial Surface: green 371 U. Sepal Number Typical per flower: 11. Observed per flower: 9 to 12. Sepal Shape Elliptical. Sepal Apex Convex. Sepal Margin Entire. Sepal Length Average: 17.5 mm. Sepal Width Average: 8.5 mm. Stamens Average number: 22.1; range 20 to 25. Pedicel Attitude of hairs is upwards/oblique. FRUIT: Bearing Remontant in coastal environments; partial remontance inland. Shape Consistently well-shaped, long conical. Length Average: 49.76 mm; range: 42.80 mm to 55.33 mm. Width Average: 38.05 mm; range: 32.10 mm to 41.50 mm. Weight Average grams per berry: 33.25 g. Achenes Approximately level with the fruit surface. Glossiness Strong. External color Red 1788 C Internal color Flesh, excluding core: red 179 C Evenness of external color All the way to the top of berry. Width of band at top devoid Small. of achenes Fruit center Some hollowness. Yield Average grams per plant: 1,057 g.

The comparison statistics set forth in the following Tables are with respect to characteristics observed at mid-season. All measurements for ‘Lucia’ were taken at the Meridian ranch test plot in Prunedale, Monterey County, Calif. during mid-season 2012. In Tables 2 and 3, the characteristics of ‘Lucia’ are compared with the varieties ‘Sweet Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472) and ‘Albion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,228). Color identifications where noted herein for ‘Lucia’ and ‘Sweet Ann’ are in accordance with the Pantone Color Formula Guide; the color identifications for ‘Albion’ are based on the Munsell system.

Plants and Foliage

The form and structure of the plants of ‘Lucia’ are similar to that of ‘Sweet Ann’ plants: erect and open. However, the plants of the ‘Lucia’ variety are slightly taller than those of ‘Sweet Ann’. The plants of ‘Lucia’, like those of its parent ‘Sweet Ann’, have high vigor and are very large in comparison to many other commercial cultivars grown in fresh strawberry production fields in California. In Table 2, comparative data for foliar characteristics are presented for ‘Lucia’ and for two comparison cultivars, ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’.

TABLE 2 Foliar Characteristics of ‘Lucia’ Compared to ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’ Foliar Cultivar Characteristic ‘Lucia’ ‘Sweet Ann’ ‘Albion’ Plant height (mm) Average 391 380 252 Range 292-490 290-480 210-270 Plant spread (mm) Average 472 420 341 Range 430-550 330-510 304-394 Leaf width (mm) Average 195 165 135 Range 165-220 130-195 105-170 Mid-tier leaflet Average 103 88 73 length (mm) Range  82-116  72-105 50-95 Mid-tier leaflet Average 91 67 68 width (mm) Range  73-102 52-88 50-95 Petiole length Average 268 220 105 (mm) Range 230-355 150-280  70-130 Petiole diameter Average 4.48 3.74 4.1 (mm) Range 3.70-5.80 3.01-4.29 3.7-4.6 Number leaflets 3 3 3 per leaf Leaf convexity Slight Slight Some flat, concave concave most slight concave Shape leaflet base Rounded to Obtuse Obtuse obtuse Leaf pubescence Medium Medium Light- density density moderate Petiole pubescence Medium Medium Heavy density density density Direction Perpendicular Perpendicular Perpendicular Stipule length Average 35.74 Not available 23.3 (mm) Range 30.2-39.7 14-34 Stipule Yes Weak yes Yes anthocyanin coloration Leaf margins Serrate to Commonly Semi-pointed crenate crenate Leaf color adaxial 364 U 364 U 5GY 5/6  surface Leaf color abaxial 363 U 370 U 5GY 4/4  surface Petiole color 366 U 383 U 5GY 7/10 Leaf surface Medium Very weak Medium blistering Leaf surface High Medium Low glossiness Flowering and Fruit

‘Lucia’ is a short-day variety that has ever-bearing tendencies under certain temperature and horticultural conditions. The primary flowers of ‘Lucia’ are smaller than those of ‘Sweet Ann’ but similar in size to those of ‘Albion’. The flowers of ‘Lucia’ consistently exhibit five petals per bloom, as compared to ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’ which exhibit greater variation, with flowers ranging from five to eight petals per bloom. In ‘Lucia’, the calyx is similar to ‘Albion’, but is smaller than in ‘Sweet Ann’.

The exterior color of the fruit of ‘Lucia’ is slightly lighter than that of ‘Sweet Ann’ and lighter than ‘Albion’. The fruit of ‘Lucia’ has excellent culinary qualities, including: uniform shape and size, lighter red color than ‘Albion’, and exceptional strawberry flavor. ‘Lucia’ produces very sweet fruit, having brix levels similar to ‘Sweet Ann’, but higher than ‘Albion’.

In Table 3, comparative data for flower and fruit characteristics for ‘Lucia’, ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’ are set forth.

TABLE 3 Flower and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Lucia’ Compared to ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’ Cultivar Characteristic ‘Lucia’ ‘Sweet Ann’ ‘Albion’ Petal number 5 5-6 5-8 Petal length (mm): 12.44 11.21 12.7 Average Petal length (mm): 10.6-14.3  9.2-13.13 11-15 Range Petal width (mm): 11.86 11.05 12.6 Average Petal width (mm):   10-13.1  9.0-13.10 11-14.0 Range Position of flower most most exposed, most exposed, (relative to foliage) exposed some even some even Pedicel length (mm): 430 330 113 Average Pedicel length (mm): 380-540 240-420 83-190 Range Sepal color: Adaxial 364 U 364 U 7.5GY 4/4 Sepal color: Abaxial 371 U 370 U 7.5GY 4/4 Corolla diameter (mm): 28.18 30.34 27 Average Corolla diameter (mm): 23.5-34.2 27.03-32.94 25-30 Range Fruit color: External 1788 C  185 C  5R 3/7 Fruit color: Internal  179 C 1788 C 7.5R 4/11

Leaf samples from ‘Lucia’, along with two advanced proprietary (unpatented) selections from the breeding program: ‘17J34’ and ‘33K46’, were submitted to a lab for allelic fingerprint comparison to the control variety, “Camarosa,” and the over two hundred other varieties of strawberry in its data base. The allelic fingerprint analysis establishes that ‘Lucia’ is distinct and unique compared to the lab's large database of allelic fingerprints. Table 4 below sets forth the test results:

TABLE 4 Allelic Fingerprint Analysis Cultivar M1 M2 M3 ‘Lucia’ 202, 204, 206, 229 188, 216, 232 235, 241, 245, 269 42J4 ‘17J34’ 204, 206, 214, 229 173, 190, 232 231, 243, 245, 265, 269 ‘33K46’ 206, 224, 229 188, 190, 216, 232 235, 241, 245, 265 ‘Camarosa’ 214, 222, 224, 229 188, 190, 216, 232 247, 265 Performance

Performance with respect to fruit size, yield, and appearance for ‘Lucia’ was assessed by making comparisons with its male parent, ‘Sweet Ann’, and two advanced proprietary (unpatented) selections from the breeding program: ‘17J34’ and ‘33K46’. All plants for these trials were initially grown at a high elevation nursery in Macdoel, Siskiyou County, Calif. The plants were dug on October 16^(th), and planted after eleven days of supplemental storage on Oct. 27, 2012. The varieties were planted and evaluated at Elkhorn, Monterey County, Calif. The yield data for the comparisons are based upon 18,000 plants per acre, converted to yield in grams per plant. The fruit for these trials was harvested from April through August, 2013.

The average fruit size of 33.25 grams per berry for ‘Lucia’ is comparable to that of ‘Albion’ (33.0 g/berry), but smaller than that of ‘Sweet Ann’. Fruit from ‘Lucia’ has great uniformity regarding size as compared to ‘Sweet Ann’. The appearance of the ‘Lucia’ fruit is exceptional, even when overripe, as compared to other cultivars, maintaining its desirable characteristics during shipment of the fruit to market. The fruit from the trials was rated based upon commercial appearance using a scale wherein a numerical score of “5” represents the best appearance score. ‘Lucia’ rated superior, with a score of “4.5,” to both ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Albion’, each of which have a commercial appearance rating of “4.” Table 5 shows the performance of ‘Lucia’ compared to ‘Sweet Ann’, and the varieties designated ‘17J34’ and ‘33K46’.

TABLE 5 Comparison of Performance of ‘Lucia’ to ‘Sweet Ann’ ‘17J34’ and ‘33K46’ Yield Size Appearance Cultivar grams/plant grams/berry Rating 5 = Best ‘Lucia’ 1,057 33.25 4.5 ‘Sweet Ann’ 1,738 47.5 4.0 ‘17J34’ 1,483 39.92 3.75 ‘33K46’ 919 29.42 3.75 Disease and Pest Resistance

With the phase-out of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant, and the restrictions on use of less effective fumigants, strawberry varieties with high vigor and the ability to thrive and produce in non-fumigated ground have become increasingly more important. ‘Lucia’ has exhibited moderate tolerance to Ramularia tulasnei (common leaf spot) and Sphaerotheca macularis (powdery mildew). The new variety shows good tolerance to Tetranychus urticae (two spotted spider mite), and has continued to show good tolerance when grown in non-fumigated ground. ‘Lucia’ has also produced good results when grown in certified organic farms. 

It is claimed:
 1. I claim a new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘Lucia’ as herein described and illustrated by the characterizations set forth above. 